U.S. patent number 4,899,879 [Application Number 07/227,186] was granted by the patent office on 1990-02-13 for display package.
Invention is credited to Howard Rosen.
United States Patent |
4,899,879 |
Rosen |
February 13, 1990 |
Display package
Abstract
A display package for holding a folded box for audio-visual
material having indicia describing the box contents which consists
of a transparent envelope, the envelope comprising sheets of
plastic material secured together on their edges, one edge being
open to permit the folded box to be inserted into and withdrawn
from the envelope, one sheet being rigid for holding the envelope
upstanding, thereby being a stop seam at one end of the envelope to
hold the folded box positioned away from the envelope edge, and a
pocket secured to the envelope on its end opposite the stop seam
for holding information related to the category of the audio-visual
material. The invention also relates to an indexing system for
audio-visual material where a plurality of like such display
packages are arranged one behind another in a bin, packed loosely
to allow one package to be flipped away from another package for
selective browsing through the packages, and to a method for
arranging such a system which consists of the steps of removing the
materials from their boxes, folding boxes to a flattened condition,
inserting each box into such a display package and arranging the
packages uprights in a bin for browsing therethrough by a consumer.
The display package pocket also includes novel means for holding
indicia placed therein from falling from the pocket during flipping
and handling of the packages.
Inventors: |
Rosen; Howard (Chicago,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
26747733 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/227,186 |
Filed: |
August 15, 1988 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
67318 |
Jun 26, 1987 |
4813534 |
Mar 21, 1989 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/445; 206/232;
40/771; 40/776; G9B/23.014; G9B/33.006 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B
23/02 (20130101); G11B 33/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G11B
23/02 (20060101); G11B 33/04 (20060101); B65D
085/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/232,445,446
;40/1D,158R,159 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ostrager; Allen M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Faier; Martin
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
application Ser. No. 67,318, filed June 26, 1987, for a DISPLAY
PACKAGE, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,534, granted Mar. 21, 1989.
Claims
I claim:
1. An indexing unit for audio-visual materials comprising:
a plurality of like display packages each for holding a folded box
having indicia thereon,
each such display package comprising an envelop at least a portion
of which is transparent to display such box indicia,
each said envelop comprising sheets of plastic material secured
together on their edges, at least one end of said envelop being
open to permit said folded box to be admitted into and withdrawn
from said envelop, at least one of said sheets being rigid for
holding said envelop upstanding,
each said envelop having a stop seam spaced apart from one edge of
said envelop for holding said folded box away from said edge,
and
a bin for containing said display packages upright arranged one
display package behind another display package,
said bin being of a height less than the height of said display
packages to reveal an upper portion of said display packages in
said bin,
said display packages being removably seated in said bin and packed
loosely in said bin to allow one such package to be flipped away
from another of said packages for selective browsing through said
plurality of packages.
2. In the indexing system recited in claim 1, wherein said display
packages are also arranged side by side in said bin.
3. In the indexing system recited in claim 1, wherein each of said
display packages has a pocket viewable from the exterior of said
envelope secured to said envelope on an end thereof.
4. In the indexing system recited in claim 3, wherein each of said
display packages has a stop seam spaced apart from and at one end
of said envelope remote from said pocket adapted to hold said
folded box positioned away from the end of an envelope in said
bin.
5. In a method for arranging an indexing system for a plurality of
audio-visual materials each packed in foldable boxes bearing
indicia describing their contents, said method comprising the
following steps:
removing such materials from such foldable boxes,
folding such boxes to a flattened condition,
inserting each such folded box one into a series of like plastic
envelopes, at least a portion of which is transparent to display
the descriptive indicia on said folded box, each of said envelopes
being sufficiently rigid to hold its folded box upright, each such
envelope having a stop seam spaced apart from one of its edges for
spacing said folded box away from said envelope edge,
positioning and arranging said envelopes loosely one behind another
upright in said bin to allow one such envelope to be flipped away
from another of said envelopes for selective browsing through a
plurality of envelopes.
6. In the method recited in claim 5, with the additional step of
providing a pocket at one end of said envelope and inserting in
said pocket indicia describing the category of such audio-visual
material.
7. In the method recited in claim 5, with the additional step of
positioning said envelope loosely in said bin to allow one such
envelope to be flipped away from another of said envelopes for
selective browsing through a plurality of envelopes.
8. In the method recited in claim 5, with the additional step of
arranging a plurality of such envelopes containing such flattened
boxes side by side with such envelopes arranged one behind
another.
9. A display package for holding indicia therein, said display
package comprising:
an envelop, at least a portion of which is transparent to display
said indicia when placed therein,
said envelop comprising a rigid sheet and a flexible sheet
coextensive with said rigid sheet,
said sheets being secured together and sealed at their edges except
at one edge where said envelope is open to permit said indicia to
be admitted into and withdrawn from said envelop,
a stop seam through said sheets welding said sheets together,
said stop seam being arranged at an end of said envelop opposed to
said open edge,
said stop seam being adapted to hold said indicia positioned away
from said coextensive sealed sheet edge remote from said open edge,
and
a pocket viewable from the exterior of said display package secured
to one of said sheets,
said pocket having an edge secured to said envelope corresponding
and common to at least one of said sealed sheet edges,
said pocket being adapted to receive media other than said indicia,
said pocket having a heat seal tab adjacent and joining it to one
of said sealed sheet edges.
10. The display package recited in claim 9, wherein said pocket is
positioned at an end of said envelope adjacent said open edge.
11. The display package recited in claim 9, wherein said pocket is
of lesser width at the location of said heat seal tab than it is
apart from said heat seal tab.
12. The display package recited in claim 9, wherein said pocket is
positioned near an end of said envelope remote from said open edge
and adjacent to said stop seam.
13. The display package recited in claim 12, wherein said stop seam
defines a wall of said pocket.
14. The display package recited in claim 12, wherein said pocket
extends above said remote end substantially the same distance as
said stop seam extends from said remote end.
15. The display package recited in claim 9, wherein said heat seal
tab and sealed sheet edges are common to said rigid and flexible
sheets and said pocket.
16. The display package recited in claim 15, wherein said pocket is
positioned near an end of said envelope remote from said open edge,
and said stop seam extends through said pocket.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to display packages for video cassettes and
compact discs, useful in indexing and arranging titles and
descriptive information available for review and selection by
customers in the environment of a video rental and sales store. The
invention also relates to a method for efficient organization of
displays in such stores.
Video cassettes and compact discs are normally packaged by the
manufacturer in oversized boxes, and these boxes have become of
substantial value to retail rental and sales storekeepers because
the packages contain descriptive information concerning the
contents of the cassette or disc, and consumers find these packages
essential in making a selection of a video or disc for rental or
purchase. These packages are usually oversized to make it difficult
for the potential shoplifter to remove the product from the store
without being detected. However, the condition of the package has
also become important, because the wholesale distributor usually
will not accept return of the product without the package clean and
in tact; it is also believed that the cassette or disc cannot be
sold or rented at the best possible price if the package is
damaged, missing or soiled. For these reasons, most video store
operators are very protective of the manufacturer's packaging and
are concerned with maintaining such packages clean and unsoiled,
although the business requires that the packages be available to
the public for use in selecting a tape or disc for rental or
purchase. It is that dilemma of the storekeepers who want to make
these packages available for use by the consumer but retain them in
good condition, that this invention speaks and seeks to solve.
Usually, in a typical video store such packages prepared and
supplied by the cassette or disc manufacturer (as the outside
jacket of his product) are arranged on a shelf or wall display in
the store. Where the retailer maintains an inventory of several
thousand prerecorded cassette and compact discs, the space problem
for the store is magnified by the display requirements. Such a
store usually must have several thousand square feet to meet the
display space requirements, eventhough the inventory requirement
for the store is very small, because the cassettes and discs can be
handled in a fraction of the total store space.
These display problems are even more critical in view of variations
in the manufacturer's package size and design utilized by different
makers. There is considerable competition for display space, and
each manufacturer tries to make its display package more enticing
to the consumer, and that motive makes it even more difficult for
the storekeeper to present an organized and convenient display
arrangement. Further, some cassettes are available for Beta video
cassette recorders and others use a VHS system, and each maker and
system present quirks in the sizing and styling of the display
boxes, emphasizing the need for a most versatile display system
These problems in maintaining and using conventional display
packages for video cassettes and compact discs may be substantially
overcome by the display package and method embodying the present
invention. For example, a wall display shelving system popular in
the video store business utilizing convention display packages and
methods requires about 260 square feet, or 32 lineal feet, eight
feet tall, to handle about 1,000 video cassette and/or compact disc
titles, and evenso, some display packages are too high for
examination by short people, women and children, and other display
packages are arranged on floor level shelves, making it difficult
for some people to reach them. Using the novel display system
embodying the present invention, only a small fraction of the store
space is needed for display of the same thousand titles, usually
about only six square feet, all at counter height convenient for
most people to use.
Moreover, applicant's novel display system opens up to the
entrepreneur possibilities not available with prior art systems.
More titles can be handled in the same space. Space rentals on a
per title offered basis are substantially less. Better and more
convenient store locations are possible using less square footage.
Other opportunities to handle related merchandise become available
using applicant's system, for example, businesses such as
convenience and drug stores, supermarkets and the like with
applicant's system have the opportunity of marketing video
cassettes and compact discs, without causing special space problems
normally associated with the use of conventional displays.
Applicant's display package consists of a special clear plastic
envelope of sufficient dimension to contain most known video
cassettes and compact disc display boxes. This novel envelope is
constructed so that it is adequately rigid to be arranged
upstanding in a display bin, but it is also suitably soft to permit
easy entrance in and withdrawal from the envelope of the
manufacturer's display package box and other indicia. The envelope
also has seals and stops to permit the manufacturer's package box
to be somewhat lifted so that the envelop contents can be easily
read as the consumer flips through a number of similar envelopes
arranged in a series one behind the other in a bin. Preferably,
each envelope has suitable pockets for holding a heading having
indicia classifying the program contents, as well as other pockets
for inventory and similar information. It is desirable for the
envelopes and a suitable bin for holding them to be dimensioned so
that the bin can also suitably house the envelopes during shipment
and then be used by the retailer as a container for housing indexed
envelopes for use by customers browsing for their video cassette or
compact disc selections.
The display package embodying the present invention is even more
versatile if constructed with pockets in a manner to easily
accommodate category and inventory information. A novel header
pocket for receiving category or similar information is constructed
in a manner where, without interfering with the indicia receiving
envelope, it can receive the desired data, and will not be
dislodged during handling or browsing, by the providing of heat
seal tabs reducing the entry width of the pocket compartment. Also,
similar tabs are provided for lower pockets intended to contain
inventory information, but it is desired that the height of these
lower pockets also be relatively short to permit easy installing
and withdrawing of an inventory card. Also, by making these pockets
and heat seal tabs co-extensive with the display package edge seal
seams and the stop seam, less expensive manufacturing procedures
can be employed in manufacturing the product, thus providing an
efficient display package at an reasonable costs.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel
display package of the character recited for video cassettes and
compact discs.
Another object is to provide a display package which consists of an
envelope suitably transparent for viewing of a folded box inserted
therein and suitably flexible for easy insertion of the box, but
suitably rigid to permit like envelopes arranged one behind the
other to be indexed upstanding and browsed through by a
consumer.
Another object is to provide a series of envelopes containing
folded video cassette and compact disc display boxes arranged in
bins for indexed browsing and selection by a consumer.
Another object is to provide a novel display envelope of
transparent material having seals and stops for displaying a folded
box in a selected position.
Another object is to provide novel transparent display envelope
having novel pockets for receiving indicia in a header along one
edge of such an envelope and other novel pockets for receiving
indicia along an opposed end of such an envelope.
Another object is to provide novel heat seal tabs for reducing the
entry width of pockets arranged on the envelope of the display
packages.
Another object is to provide a carton having arranged therein a
series of transparent envelopes stacked one behind another, wherein
the carton is suitable for use as a bin for indexed arrangement of
such envelopes when filled with folded boxes.
Another object is to provide for a method for efficient
organization of video cassette and compact disc titles in a video
rental and sales store.
A further object is to provide a display package for video cassette
and compact disc containers which is inexpensive and efficient to
arrange and use without affecting future use of such
containers.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become
more apparent as this description proceeds, taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front elevations view of a display package embodying
the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a section view of the display package taken on line 2--2
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a modified header arrangement similar to FIG. 2, except
with portions broken away.
FIG. 4 is another cross section view of another modified header
arrangement similar to FIG. 2, except with portions broken
away.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the modified header arrangement
shown in FIG. 4, taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the header
arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 7 is a typical perspective view of the envelopes arranged in a
bin embodying the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, an envelope 10
fabricated from transparent material, preferably made from sheets
of polyethylene or poly vinyl chloride, is adapted to receive a
folded box B of the kind used to house a video cassette or compact
disc. Such boxes are usually made from paperboard or similar
material and are foldable to a flat condition when the video
cassette or compact disc is removed. The outside surfaces of the
box usually describes the contents including the title of the work,
its case and credits, a synopsis of the store or other work
contained on the cassette or disc, and other information which may
be helpful in interesting the consumer in the work.
As shown in FIG. 7, a series of like envelopes 10 are arrange one
behalf another and side by side in a bin 11. This bin 11 may
comprise a corrugated box having a conventional cover (not shown)
which may be used by the envelope manufacturer to ship a supply of
envelopes to the video stores and then used by the retailer to
display envelopes containing the folded boxes B, which are usually
arranged so that the envelopes may be indexed, for example by
category or alphabetically or otherwise, and flipped for browsing
by the consumer when selecting a desired video cassette or compact
disc title. Once the desired title is selected, the consumer may
inform an attendant of the selection, and the attendant may select
the cassette or disc required by the consumer from a secured
inventory held by the storekeeper away from access by the
consumer.
Preferably, the envelope 10 is fabricated from sheets of
predetermined varying rigidity. One of the larger sheets 15 of the
envelop is preferably of relatively stiff plastic, and its adjacent
coextensive sheet 16 is relatively flexible, so that the pocket 17
formed by the adjacent sheets 15 and 1 for containing the folded
box B is flexible, permitting easy entry into the pocket while
providing overall rigidity of the envelope to permit it to be
arranged in selected indexed position upstanding in the bin 11. The
envelope 10 may also have a header pocket 20, formed by a sheet 21
overlaying the larger sheet 15. This header pocket 20 may be used
to display indicia such as the category or the cassette or
disc.
Lower pockets 22 may also be formed by a lower sheet 23 arranged
across the lower portion of the adjacent sheets 15 and 16.
Preferably, a stop 25 is provided across the sheets 15, 16 and 23
which acts to prevent the folded box B in pocket 17 from bottoming
out in the pocket 17, thus facilitating flipping of the envelopes
and presenting the boxes B in a more uniform position, despite
limited differences in sizes.
Preferably, the entire periphery of the adjacent sheets 15 and 16,
except the upper edge of the sheet 16, the periphery of the sheet
21, except its upper edge, and the periphery of the sheet 23,
except its upper edge, are sealed by means of a heat-sealed seam
26, and this seam 26 defines the pockets. The open entry to the
pockets 17, 20, and 22 are defined by the unsealed open edges of
the sheets 16, 21 and 23, at entries 27, 28 and 29,
respectively.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the header pocket 30 has a heat
seam 31 at its bottom edge of the small sheet 32, so that the
pocket 30 has its entry at the top edge 33 of the pocket, which is
formed by welding or other closure between the sheets 15 and 32. In
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the header pocket 40 has
a header sheet 42, which with large sheet 15 forms the pocket, and
the heat weld 41 joins the sheets 15 and 42 together, except at the
one side edge 43, which is left open for insertion of the header
card into the pocket 40. In the FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4-6 embodiments,
there is less chance for the header card to slip out of the
respective pockets 30 and 40, as compared to pocket 20 in he FIGS.
1-2 embodiment, because the modified pockets 30 and 40 have an
opening other than at the bottom of the pocket. However, if the
header card intended for insertion into the pocket 20 is cut with
great care to a size about the size of that pocket, there is little
danger of the header card falling from the pocket, and the
additional cost of seaming at heat seal 31 and heat weld 41 in the
modified embodiment is not always justified.
With reference particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of upper heat
seal tabs 50 are provided in upper or header pocket 20 at the point
where the sheet 21 is secured to the sheet 15, and a pair of lower
heat seal tabs 51 are provided in the lower or inventory card
pocket 22 at the point where the sheet 23 is secured to the sheet
16. These tabs 50 and 51 tighten up the respective pockets 20 and
22 sufficiently to hold the contents securely, free from
dislodgement during flipping and handling. Further, with respect to
the lower pocket 22, preferably it extends only to the height of
the stop seal 25, making it easier to install or withdraw the "VHS"
or "BETA" card, without fear of losing it during handling. Also,
the arrangement of the stop seam 24, edge seam 26, and tab seals 50
and 51 at common locations makes it possible to more efficiently
construct the display package at a more economical cost, because a
single heat welding operation at those points provides all of the
heat welding steps necessary to create the desired
compartments.
Preferably, the larger or base sheet 15 is fabricated from about
0.020 gauge clear rigid poly vinyl chloride plastic and the other
sheets are fabricated from about 0.006 gauge clear flexible poly
vinyl chloride plastic.
While the embodiments of the invention have been described in
considerable detail, it is not desired that the invention should be
limited to the exact structure described, as the structure can be
modified or changed without departing from the scope or spirit or
the invention.
* * * * *